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Q2. (A) Read the following extract and answer the questions given below: (11)
Researchers recently announced the earth could actually withstand up to 200,000 times the current population. They arrived at this figure by calculating the amount of heat a human body emits, and only at 1.3 million billion would the earth be too hot to be habitable. And though it would feel like being in a can of sardines if that figure were ever reached, the earth is capable of comfortably sustaining a population several times the current 6.5 billion.
In fact, fertility is actually on the decline worldwide. Though population has grown, the rate of growth has fallen sharply. Twenty years ago, the UN projected that population would reach 11.16 billion in 2050, today they say it will reach only 9.37 billion. Moreover, human population will stabilize at about 11.5 billion. While this figure is almost twice the current one, it is hardly claustrophobic.
True, the demands on resources are heavy even now, but this is more due to the manner in which these resources are being used. In fact, figures show that a bigger population does not amount to greater consumption. Over 20% of the world's people in the highest-income countries account for 86% of total private consumption expenditure — the poorest 20% a tiny 1.3%. With just 5% of the world's population, the US consumes about 40% of the world's resources. Would you say the US is overpopulated? Concerns on scarcity of food are equally baseless.
In fact, global food production has actually kept up with population growth. If people starve in many countries it is not because food is becoming scarce; it is because those people cannot afford it. We imagine the prospect of a bigger population only in terms of the lifestyle and technology of today. By 2050, or even 10 years from now, technology and even human bodies will have done much to adapt and innovate from the resources available, and made more inventions for sustenance and comfort.
1) What is the main idea of the first paragraph?
Ans. The main idea of the first paragraph is about the ability of the earth to sustain a population several times the current 6.5 billion.
(2) What is the relationship between population and the available resources?
Ans. The relationship between population and the available resources is that the resources are used improperly. Over 20% of the world’s people in the highest income countries account for 86% of total private consumption expenditure, while the poorest 20% consumes a tiny proportion of 1.3%.
(3) Why do the researchers claim that the earth is capable of sustaining a bigger population?
Ans. The researchers claim that the earth is capable of sustaining a bigger population this is because, they have calculated the average amount of heat a human body emits, and found that only at 1.3 million billion would the earth be too hot to be habitable.
(4) What, according to you, are the problems caused by increasing population?
Ans. Overpopulation may cause the following adverse effects.
(a) Depletion of natural resources
(b) Scarcity of quality goods.
(c) Increase in poor health condition.
(d) Increase in unemployment. etc.
(5) Rewrite the following sentences in the ways instructed:
(i) The earth would be too hot to be habitable.
(Remove ‘too’)
Ans. The earth would be so hot that it would not be habitable.
(ii) Though population has grown, the rate of growth has fallen sharply.
(Rewrite it using ‘but’)
Ans. Population has grown but the rate of growth has fallen sharply.
(iii) Moreover, human population will stabilize at about 11.5 billion. (Make it ‘less definite’)
Ans. Moreover, human population may stabilize at about 11.5 billion.
6. Find out the words from the extract which mean :
(i) natural capacity to produce
Ans. natural capacity to produce - fertility
(ii) Shortage.
Ans. shortage – scarcity.
(B) Note – making
Read the following extract and complete the table given below:
Children are perpetually asking questions. As adults, we are awkward with questions. We link the act of asking questions to ignorance. It indicates that we do not know; hence, we may look stupid while asking questions.
Children have no shame, whereas adults suffer from layers and layers of shame. Because children have no shame, they are more capable of failing at something and moving on from it. Our sense of shame makes us inhibited. So we do not try new things at work.
Children quickly make friends with strangers. Put two kids together along with a few toys and they will start playing before they care to know about each other’s antecedents. As adults, we seek the false comfort of known relationships before we agree to play with each other.
Children freely express their emotions; adults learn to suppress their emotional side. We come to the workplace and are frequently counselled, “Do not get emotional.”
Children play. They find play in everything. Adults shun play and consider it the opposite of “serious work”. To a child, every act is an act of play.
Traits Delinking Childhood and Adulthood:
Traits
|
Children
|
Adults
| |
1
|
Asking Questions
|
Perpetually ask questions freely
|
(1) Feet awkward with questions
(2) ___________
|
2
|
Feeling Shame
|
(1) Feel no shame
(2) ____________
|
(1) Suffer from shame
(2) Inhibited to try new things at work
|
3.
|
Making friends
|
(1) Quick in making friendship without knowing each other
|
(1) ____________
|
4.
|
Expressing emotions
|
(1) ____________
|
(1) Suppress emotions.
|
Ans.
Traits
|
Children
|
Adults
| |
1
|
Asking Questions
|
Perpetually ask questions freely
|
(1) Feet awkward with questions
(2) link the act of asking questons to ignorance and stupidity.
|
2
|
Feeling Shame
|
(1) Feel no shame
(2) more capable of failing and moving on from it.
|
(1) Suffer from shame
(2) Inhibited to try new things at work
|
3.
|
Making friends
|
(1) Quick in making friendship without knowing each other
|
(1) seek the false conforts of known relationship.
|
4.
|
Expressing emotions
|
(1) freely express emotions.
|
(1) Suppress emotions.
|
